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For most live streams, start with H.264/AVC—but first check what your platform accepts on the ingest route you plan to use. HEVC/H.265 or AV1 may deliver better compression, yet they are useful only when the platform and protocol support them and your encoder can handle real-time encoding. For YouTube, the protocol matters: its published third-party ingest comparison lists different codecs for RTMP/RTMPS, HLS and DASH.
What a codec does—and what it does not
A video codec encodes and decodes the picture in your stream. H.264, HEVC and AV1 are codecs; RTMP, RTMPS, HLS and DASH are delivery or ingest protocols. A codec being listed in a platform’s general encoder settings does not necessarily mean it is accepted through every protocol that platform offers.
Codec choice affects compatibility, the bitrate needed for a given image quality, encoder workload and, in some cases, HDR support. It does not replace choosing an accepted ingest method, setting an appropriate bitrate or testing the complete stream.
How the main codecs compare
| Codec | When to consider it | Trade-offs and cautions |
|---|---|---|
| H.264 / AVC | Choose it first when broad compatibility is the priority or the destination’s requirements are uncertain. | OBS calls H.264 its default and describes it as broadly compatible. That is not a guarantee for every platform or ingest mode; verify the destination’s current requirements. |
| H.265 / HEVC | Consider it when the platform and specific ingest method support it, particularly if you need a supported HDR workflow. | OBS says HEVC can provide better quality at the same bitrate or file size than H.264, but notes that it is less widely used for web streaming and has more restrictive licensing. Support varies by ingest route. |
| AV1 | Consider it only when the destination and ingest route support it and your encoder can encode it in real time. | OBS describes improved quality per file size compared with HEVC, but warns that real-time software encoding can require a high-end CPU. AV1 is not listed in Google’s protocol comparison for YouTube RTMP/RTMPS, HLS or DASH, so confirm the actual workflow rather than inferring a supported route. |
| VP9 | Relevant to YouTube’s DASH ingest option in Google’s protocol comparison. | The reviewed sources do not establish VP9 as the best general-purpose creator encoder choice. Treat it as a protocol-specific option, not a default recommendation. |
OBS’s format guide is dated March 26, 2023; its general compatibility guidance and hardware-generation references should be checked against your current software and equipment.
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What YouTube accepts depends on the ingest protocol
YouTube’s encoder-settings help page lists H.264, H.265/HEVC and AV1 among live encoder settings. A separate Google for Developers comparison, updated September 14, 2026, specifies supported codecs by third-party ingest protocol. These documents address different questions; do not treat the general list as confirmation that each codec works on each protocol.
| YouTube ingest protocol | Codecs listed in Google’s protocol comparison | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| RTMP and RTMPS | H.264 | YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted transmission. Its general encoder settings page listing HEVC and AV1 does not, by itself, establish those codecs for RTMP/RTMPS ingest. |
| HLS | H.264 and HEVC | Google describes HLS as encrypted and generally higher latency than RTMP because it is segment-based. |
| DASH | H.264 and VP9 | Google describes DASH as encrypted and generally higher latency than RTMP because it is segment-based. |
Google says the newer codec support in its protocol comparison can provide better compression than H.264—potentially higher quality at a given bitrate or similar quality at a lower bitrate. That general benefit does not establish that every codec is available on every ingest path.
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For YouTube HDR, the current encoder-settings page specifies HEVC and says AV1 is not supported for HDR. If HDR is essential, follow that documented codec and settings path rather than assuming AV1’s general appearance in the live encoder list applies.
Choose a codec in six steps
- Identify the destination and ingest route. Check the platform’s current encoder guide and protocol-specific requirements. For YouTube third-party ingest, compare RTMP/RTMPS, HLS and DASH rather than looking only at a general codec list.
- Select a codec explicitly accepted on that route. If compatibility is uncertain, H.264 is the sensible starting point; for YouTube, use the protocol table above to verify the route.
- Check what your encoder can sustain. Confirm hardware or software support in your encoder. OBS warns that AV1 software encoding can demand a high-end CPU for real-time use; a supported hardware encoder may reduce that burden. OBS’s 2023 guide identifies hardware AV1 encoders on AMD RX 7000-series, NVIDIA RTX 40-series and Intel Arc GPUs, but check current GPU, driver and encoder support before buying or configuring equipment.
- Set resolution, frame rate and bitrate together. Use the platform’s recommendation for the exact codec, resolution and frame rate, then check that your upload connection can sustain it reliably.
- Set the keyframe interval and audio format. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. Its live encoder settings list AAC or MP3 audio.
- Run a representative test and monitor stream health. Include the kind of movement and audio you expect during the real broadcast. YouTube advises running a speed test to check upload bitrate and monitoring stream health.
YouTube-recommended bitrates
The following are YouTube Help recommendations, accessed in 2026, not universal codec requirements. The first value in each row is for AV1/H.265; the second is for H.264. YouTube groups AV1 and H.265 in the same bitrate column, so the figures do not show that one is superior to the other.
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| Resolution and frame rate | AV1 / H.265 | H.264 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 10 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 12 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| 1440p at 60 fps | 24 Mbps | 34 Mbps |
| 4K at 60 fps | 35 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
These are starting points from YouTube’s table; they do not guarantee a stable stream on a connection with fluctuating upload capacity. Test the intended settings before going live and leave room for connection variation rather than setting bitrate above what the connection reliably sustains.
Multistreaming: use the overlap, not an assumption
If sending one stream to multiple destinations, choose a codec and ingest method accepted by every destination—or use distinct outputs if your workflow supports them. The reviewed platform documentation does not establish one codec recipe that works everywhere. Verify current requirements for each service and each protocol before building the workflow.
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Common codec and stream problems
- The platform rejects the stream or it will not start: Confirm the ingest protocol and the codec actually supported on that route. A codec appearing in general encoder settings is not proof it works on every protocol.
- The picture stutters or the stream drops frames: Check whether the encoder is overloaded and whether upload capacity can sustain the selected bitrate. For AV1 software encoding, OBS warns that real-time compression may require a high-end CPU. Test with representative motion and monitor stream health.
- The connection is unstable at the recommended bitrate: Run the platform’s recommended speed test, then reduce the output settings to a bitrate your upload can sustain reliably. Re-test before the broadcast.
- HDR does not work as expected on YouTube: Follow YouTube’s documented HEVC HDR settings. The help page says AV1 is not supported for YouTube HDR.
- The stream has more latency than expected: Check whether you are using HLS or DASH; Google says these segment-based protocols generally have higher latency than RTMP.
- A codec option is missing in your encoder: Check the encoder, GPU generation, driver and software version. Hardware encoder availability is equipment- and software-dependent; do not assume every machine supports AV1 encoding.
Sources and currentness
- YouTube Help: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
- Google for Developers: YouTube Live Streaming Ingestion Protocol Comparison, updated September 14, 2026.
- OBS Project: Audio/Video Formats Guide, dated March 26, 2023.
Platform support and encoder guidance can change. Recheck the destination’s official documentation before a live production. A precise current Twitch codec recommendation is not included here because its official broadcasting-guidelines page could not be confirmed in the reviewed material.
Quick Recap
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